Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Xiao Hu Might Have a Way

“What? Me?” Lou Yun asked in confusion. “Brother Chang, you can’t be joking. No healer or alchemist under the heavens could cure her; how could I possibly do so? If I said I could but then failed to truly cure her, Leng Cangqiong would definitely think I was messing with him. He’d kill me for sure!”

“Wait!” Lou Yun suddenly remembered something. “How do you know I can cure his sister’s injury? Do you know what injury she suffered?”

“Nonsense! Of course I know, why else would I say you could cure her?”

“Then what exactly is his sister’s injury?”

“Hmph, the injury his sister suffered is actually one you’ve suffered before too. The difference is you managed to withstand it. His sister, being female, has an inherently Yin-leaning constitution. Combined with her weaker physical condition and low cultivation, she couldn’t hold out. Fortunately, Leng Cangqiong sealed her in this Eternal Ice in time, otherwise she would have died long ago!”

Lou Yun was getting more confused. They were talking about Leng Cangqiong’s sister, so why was it brought back to him? He had been injured before, but how could his situation possibly be the same as her sister’s!

Seeing Lou Yun truly couldn’t figure it out, Chang Xiang said coldly, “I’ll give you a simple hint: Fusang!”

Hearing these two words, Lou Yun froze for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of understanding!

Back when he received the Fusang Fire, his Great Grandfather had forcibly injected it into his body. After being unconscious for several days and nights, he had finally managed to control the Fusang Fire and claimed it as his own, relying on his tenacious will and robust physical condition.

“Brother Chang, do you mean to say there’s also a Heaven Flame inside Leng Cangqiong’s sister?”

“Hmm. The person who injected that Heaven Flame into his sister back then was surely its owner. His plan was probably to gain control over Leng Cangqiong by holding his sister hostage. That’s why he didn’t raise the flame’s temperature too high. And indeed, under the heavens, only he, the master, could recall the Heaven Flame. But that man never imagined that Leng Cangqiong simply wouldn’t submit to threats and killed him instead! After the man died, the Heaven Flame lost its master. His sister couldn’t subdue it either, so the flame remained inside her body. She should have burned to death long ago, but Leng Cangqiong is truly formidable; he constantly used his own spiritual energy to help her resist it, until finally sealing her inside the ice!”

Lou Yun nodded, agreeing Chang Xiang’s reasoning made sense. However, there was one crucial question he still couldn’t understand. “Even if there truly is a Heaven Flame inside her, I have no way to cure her. If simply absorbing the Heaven Flame out was the solution, with Leng Cangqiong’s immense cultivation, he surely would have extracted it long ago!”

“You have no way, but Xiao Hu might!” Chang Xiang said. “Since Xiao Hu loves devouring Heaven Flames, it should have a method to absorb one out of a human body. Though I’m not entirely certain myself. Ultimately, it’s your call.”

After saying this, Chang Xiang fell silent, and Lou Yun found himself caught in a dilemma.

Honestly, Lou Yun would always extend help if possible, even to a stranger. Moreover, Leng Cangqiong had genuinely aided him, and he wanted to repay that kindness. But the man in front of him was none other than the infamous White-haired God of Death of the Spirit Weapon Star! If he had absolute certainty of curing the sister, he wouldn’t hesitate. The crucial point was his own uncertainty – did Xiao Hu truly have a way?

Help? What if the cure failed? Releasing his sister from the Eternal Ice? Who knew what consequences would follow! Not help? Whether seeing the anguish on Leng Cangqiong’s face or the girl trapped within the ice, Lou Yun couldn’t harden his heart to simply walk away.

Just then, Leng Cangqiong turned and said, “Enough. I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Leave now. In the future, it would be best if you never appear here again. You’ve already broken my rule today. I only helped and spoke to you at length because you too were trying to save your sister!”

Lou Yun now understood why Leng Cangqiong had helped him. It was because of his own past – perhaps even ongoing – inability to save his own sister. Hearing that Lou Yun had also come seeking the Qi Cai Xue Lian to save his sister had stirred Leng Cangqiong’s compassion, prompting him to break his own rule.

Watching Leng Cangqiong start walking out first, Lou Yun finally mustered his courage and called out, “Wait! Elder Leng! I… I might be able to cure your sister!”

Upon hearing this, Leng Cangqiong whirled around instantly. His eyes shone with piercing light as they fixed back on Lou Yun. Naturally, Lou Yun felt the immense pressure again, but he held his ground, adding, “I said might. I have no absolute certainty. I can explain the method first. You listen and see if you think it seems feasible. If you agree, we can give it a try. If you think it’s not viable… then just pretend I said nothing.”

Leng Cangqiong stared fiercely at Lou Yun for a long moment. The sharp light in his eyes finally faded, though his expression remained icy. “Fine. Speak. But first, let me warn you. Though it’s been long since I last killed, if you dare deceive me, I will make you wish you were dead!”

Clearly, Leng Cangqiong didn’t believe Lou Yun could cure his sister. The healers and alchemists he had sought for his sister back then had been renowned across the Spirit Weapon Star. What was Lou Yun? Just a youngster with a bit of strength.

However, after enduring on this snowy mountain for over fifty years, Leng Cangqiong had never given up on saving his sister. So even the slightest possibility was worth trying.

Lou Yun nodded. “I naturally wouldn’t deceive you. Let me ask first: Is there a mass of Heaven Flame present within your sister’s body?”

Leng Cangqiong’s eyes widened abruptly; a flicker of hope was visible on his face. While he had shared some of his past experiences with Lou Yun, he had absolutely never mentioned the nature of his sister’s injury. Yet now, Lou Yun had pinpointed it flawlessly. This suggested Lou Yun truly possessed some genuine knowledge!

During those years seeking medical help for his sister, even if no one could cure her, he had eventually learned there was a mass of Heaven Flame inside her body.

“Yes. That man forcibly injected his Heaven Flame into my sister’s body. He intended to threaten me using my sister’s life, so he controlled the flame’s temperature, preventing my sister from being instantly burned to death!” Feeling a glimmer of hope, Leng Cangqiong’s tone softened several degrees.

Leng Cangqiong’s answer perfectly matched Chang Xiang’s speculation. Lou Yun nodded and asked several more questions, confirming Chang Xiang’s deductions were entirely correct.

The hope on Leng Cangqiong’s face visibly strengthened again. The questions Lou Yun asked were all critical; someone ignorant wouldn’t even know to ask them.

Seeing Lou Yun fall deep in thought, Leng Cangqiong took an eager step forward, saying excitedly, “Young brother! If you truly can extract the Heaven Flame from my sister’s body… I’m willing to acknowledge you as my master! From this day forward, I will serve you for life!”

The sheer pride within Leng Cangqiong was extraordinary. Yet now, to save his sister, he was willing to sacrifice his own freedom and become another man’s subordinate. This showed how vastly his sister’s life outweighed everything else in his mind!

Lou Yun, however, was startled by Leng Cangqiong’s words. He hastily waved his hands. “No need! No need at all, Elder Leng! I owe you an immense debt of gratitude. If not for your help earlier, I couldn’t have found the Qi Cai Xue Lian so smoothly. Therefore, even if I truly cure your sister, consider it repayment of that kindness. We owe each other nothing.”

These words significantly boosted Lou Yun’s standing in Leng Cangqiong’s estimation. Think about it! With Leng Cangqiong’s reputation and power, acknowledging someone as master would grant that person free reign to strut around the Spirit Weapon Star with impunity. Yet Lou Yun had flatly refused. That kind of magnanimity was not something just anyone possessed.

After pondering for a moment, Lou Yun reached out and plucked Xiao Hu from his shoulder. He held the tiny creature up towards Leng Cangqiong. “Elder Leng, this is a Fire Spirit Mouse. It’s extremely rare. Its greatest passion is devouring Heaven Flames. The method I thought of involves letting it extract the Heaven Flame from your sister.”

“However,” Lou Yun continued, “I’m not entirely familiar with its habits either. I cannot guarantee it will succeed completely. Considerable risk remains.”

“Therefore, Elder Leng, the decision is ultimately yours. If it can be done, naturally everyone is joyful! But if it cannot…”

Lou Yun left the rest unsaid. With Leng Cangqiong’s experience, he well understood Lou Yun’s implication. Thus, it was Leng Cangqiong’s turn to fall into deep contemplation.

After a long time, Leng Cangqiong raised his head and looked at Xiao Hu. “I’ve never heard of a Fire Spirit Mouse. Since you carry it, you must be its master. So tell me, what odds do you give it… of successfully extracting the Heaven Flame from my sister?”

“This…” Lou Yun scratched his head. Honestly, he didn’t dare assign any percentage. He still had no grasp of the actual condition inside Leng Cangqiong’s sister.

So Lou Yun began communicating with Xiao Hu. He pointed towards the woman in the ice mountain, gesturing animatedly as he tried to convey the situation in as much detail as possible. Xiao Hu listened, its little beady eyes rolling thoughtfully several times, before nodding vigorously.

Lou Yun still wasn’t sure Xiao Hu fully understood. Seeing it nod, he nonetheless emphasized uneasily, “Xiao Hu, you absolutely must be certain you can extract the Heaven Flame from inside her! Otherwise… she will die!”

Xiao Hu nodded forcefully again. Lou Yun turned back to Leng Cangqiong. “It seems it’s confident. But after all, it is a demon beast… I still cannot make you any definite promises.”

This was Lou Yun acting responsibly. Leng Cangqiong was no fool. He clearly understood the dangers and uncertainties involved. His expression shifted rapidly several times. Finally, gritting his teeth, he nodded decisively. “Instead of letting her live forever trapped in this agonizing half-life… we must try. Even if she dies… it will be a release for her.”